Contrary to popular belief, there is actually a wrong way to apply perfume, and it's likely the reason why you can't smell your signature scent only a few hours after you spritz it on. You could invest in a long-lasting perfume, but that'll only take you so far. Really, the best way to make your perfume last longer is all in the little fragrance hacks you employ when you put it on.
As a perfume expert and editor, I've chatted with all of the pros and amassed quite a list of tricks on how to apply perfume so it lasts longer. Because you shouldn't have to carry around an extra bottle of perfume every day to reapply. Purses are way too small for that these days. Ahead, I'm breaking it all down so you can smell amazing 24/7.
1. Apply perfume with unscented deodorant
Look, I know you absolutely love the floral scent of your deodorant, but that aroma paired with your favorite musk-scented perfume...it's not a great combo. When you're spritzing on your fragrance, stick with an unscented deo to make sure you don't attack your nostrils (or anyone else's, for that matter) with a weird mix of smells.
2. Pay attention to the concentration of your perfume
The concentration is a fancy name for the ratio of perfume to alcohol—the latter helps diffuse a scent—and it determines how long the smell will last on your skin. Eau de perfumes have more perfume and are more intense (they last five hours); eau de toilettes have less and are lighter (they last around three hours).
3. Apply perfume after using an unscented body oil
FYI: Dry skin doesn't hold perfume as well as oily skin does. So layer on an unscented body oil to add a glow, and then apply your perfume—it'll hold the scent better and you'll have to reapply less often.
4. Spray your clothes with perfume
Don’t just stick to spraying perfume on your body—spritz it all over your clothes too. Clothing fibers are able to hold in scents for a very long time (yes, even after you wash it). Be cautious, though, of spritzing onto fabrics like silk or satin. The oils in your perfume can potentially stain, but it's usually okay on knits and cotton.
5. Apply perfume by spritzing, not misting
You know how some people spray a bunch of perfume into the air and then walk through it? Yeah, don’t do that—you’re just wasting product, and the scent will evaporate after a short amount of time. A direct spritz onto bare skin is all you need to keep the perfume scent on you for longer.
6. Spray perfume on top of your ears
It sounds weird, but trust me, it works. The more oily your skin, the better scent sticks (it's filled with perfume oils, after all, and oil <3s oil). And the top of your ears is a little bit oilier than say, behind your earlobes.
7. Don't store perfume in your bathroom
Heat, light, and humidity will break down the perfume and lessen the quality and intensity of the fragrance. Instead, store your perfume bottles in a cool, dry place, like on the vanity in your room. But make sure they're away from windows too.
8. Prep your skin with Vaseline before applying perfume
Smooth a little Vaseline (or Aquaphor; whatever ointment you like) on your pulse points before spraying your perfume to make the scent last longer. The ointment holds the fragrance to your skin longer than if you were to spray it onto dry skin.
9. Use an unscented lotion before applying perfume
Massage a bit of unscented lotion on your skin before you spritz on your perfume. Like I said, oilier skin retains fragrance longer, so using an oil-based moisturizer first will help lock in the scent.
10. Apply perfume right after taking a shower
The moisture on your skin will help lock in the scent. This will also prevent the fragrance from staining super delicate clothes (like your favorite silk blouse) or jewelry.
11. Don’t rub your wrists together after applying perfume
Don’t dab the fragrance on your wrists after spraying. If you rub your wrists together, you’ll force the scent to disappear faster than intended—aka your fragrance won’t last as long. Womp womp.
12. Apply perfume on your pulse points
To make your scent last longer, choose a couple of pulse points. These are warm areas that’ll help diffuse the fragrance across your entire body. Also, pro tip: Spraying your ankles and calves allows the scent to rise throughout the day. Your pulse points on your body include:
- Your wrists
- Inside your elbows
- On your neck
- Below your midriff
- Behind your knees
13. Apply perfume on your hair brush
Spraying an alcohol-based fragrance directly onto your hair will dry it out, so instead spray the fragrance on your brush before running it through your hair. Your hair will be lightly scented and undamaged.
14. Use hair fragrance to apply your perfume
Or, if you’re still worried that a perfume might dry out your hair, grab a fragrance specially designed for hair to make it smell better and keep it fresh in between washes.
15. Study up on common perfume terms
Here’s a rundown on a few fragrance terms, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for before you buy a new perfume:
- Top notes: The first scent you smell after spraying the perfume, which fades quickly.
- Middle/heart notes: The scent that develops after the top note fades.
- Base note: The heaviest scent that lingers the longest.
16. Mix your perfume with an unscented lotion
Perfume running low? Pour the last bit of fragrance from an almost-empty perfume bottle into unscented body lotion (or hand cream) so nothing goes to waste.
17. Layer your perfumes
Create your own ~custom~ scent by layering fragrances. Spray a few fragrance blotters with different oils and perfumes and smell them at the same time to see if they complement each other. Once you find a combination you like, try it on your skin (your skin oils can alter the way a perfume smells). Spray the stronger scent first and then top it with the lighter fragrance so that the first perfume doesn’t overpower the second.
18. Use a makeup wipe to get rid of unwanted scents
If you’re sampling perfumes and you spray yourself with something you don’t like, use a makeup wipe to get rid of the scent. It’s super easy and gets the job done fast.
19. Apply perfume on cotton swabs
Spray cotton swabs with your perfume and hide them in sandwich bags inside your bag for quick touch-ups throughout the day. It’s wayyy easier to carry cotton swabs in your clutch than an entire perfume bottle.
20: Apply perfume on tissue paper
Line your dresser drawers with tissue paper and spray them with your favorite scent to make your clothes and towels smell amazing.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories.
Ama Kwarteng is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan with more than 6 years of experience researching and writing beauty stories, like testing Black Girl Sunscreen and reviewing neck-firming creams.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
